flat files for storage?
- Thread starter mrb
- Start date
Cryptic1911
Well-known member
there was someone here who picked up a nice big one and used it in the garage.. no idea who it was though
I looked at them, but they were extremely deep (like 3.5') and at only 2" tall drawers you couldn't put a ton in them. I have a guy locally that is selling 3, but where are you going to put something that is 4.5' wide, 3.5' deep and 18" tall (I have a small 2 car garage).
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
We have a ton of flat files here in my office. If they ever decide to get rid of them I'm going to be first in line - I think they would make great tool or storage cabinets.
Stuey
Well-known member
Kind of...
http://toolguyd.com/2010/01/ikea-alex-6-drawer-cabinet/
I love 'em, but the drawers aren't full extension.
http://toolguyd.com/2010/01/ikea-alex-6-drawer-cabinet/
I love 'em, but the drawers aren't full extension.
I have looked into them.
(The map cabinets at local gov offices since all the maps are computerized now.)
I could live with the shallow drawers but the ones I have seen do not extend all the way out.
You couldn't get to the last 1/3 to 1/4.
(The map cabinets at local gov offices since all the maps are computerized now.)
I could live with the shallow drawers but the ones I have seen do not extend all the way out.
You couldn't get to the last 1/3 to 1/4.
As records departments have gone digital, tons of flat-storage (maps, large documents, you name it) cabinets have been repurposed for use as toolboxes.
cowboy73
Well-known member
Could you change out the drawer slides to get them to extend all the way out? Cheap storage is always good anyway.
oltruckag
Well-known member
Nope, it won't work. If you find any in the NE GA area that need disposal I'll take care of it 
I'm waiting for us to purge our old fire alarm drawings in storage. There's about 4 of them. Perfect for tool storage.
I'm waiting for us to purge our old fire alarm drawings in storage. There's about 4 of them. Perfect for tool storage.
6768rogues
Banned
I have some flat files that were used to store gaskets. Each drawer was for a different manufacturer's gaskets.
EVOLVO
Well-known member
I thought you where trying to store flat bastards!
ddawg16
Well-known member
That was me....picked up one for my wife for Mothers Day....
She is an artist...(among other things) has a ton of drawing, prints, etc that need safe storage....
We are trying to get the attic organized so we can get it up there...we are going to make it part of a drafting table....
G_P
Well-known member
Im picking up a huge (3 stacked sections) one of these for free from a friend that is moving. Cabinet is old as hell. Made from heavy gauge steel with solid brass hardware. He cut the front off of one drawer and welded it to the drawer below to make a double-deep drawer in the bottom section.
These things are HUGE! while cleaning it out i kept finding random things tucked in the back of the drawers since about 6" of the drawer is still in the cabinet at full extension. Some drawers were full of hammer heads and axe heads so apparently it can hold some serious weight at least in the lower part.
These things are HUGE! while cleaning it out i kept finding random things tucked in the back of the drawers since about 6" of the drawer is still in the cabinet at full extension. Some drawers were full of hammer heads and axe heads so apparently it can hold some serious weight at least in the lower part.
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Vinko
Well-known member
there was a thread either here or elsewhere on this with tons of photos. I like the idea, but I use them for blue prints and photos and other things myself.
mrfortyford
Member
Since another hobby of mine is collecting Hotwheels they make great storage for them
I was at a shop once that did a lot of chassis fabrication. He got one of those files, and then ordered two of every pre-made bracket and tab from a couple different chassis parts suppliers, painted the part number on them and put them in the drawer. When he was fabricating a chassis for a customer, he'd go to his big cabinet full of brackets and tabs, find the ones he needed, mock them up, then order the number he needed from the supplier.
I always thought that was pretty cool.
They'd make good drawers for machine tool cutting bits as well.
-Brad
I always thought that was pretty cool.
They'd make good drawers for machine tool cutting bits as well.
-Brad
thdewey
Well-known member
I had a friend of mine build these for my daughter's school. I just didn't have the time. The teachers wanted some cabinets to store there 48" long material that they use on bulliten boards during the year. much the material is seasonal. During the summer it all has to go somewhere. But this design could be shortened to tool box size.
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R6 Racer
Well-known member
For anyone who's looking...
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...-Composing-Equipment-c1900-W0QQAdIdZ210513038
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...-Composing-Equipment-c1900-W0QQAdIdZ210513038
Attachments
Here's mine. I was going to wait until I had it all set up before posting pics but what the hell. Got two of these for free from work. They are old map cases. Exterior dimensions are 29.5 deep, 40.5 width, and 16.5 for height. The drawers are only 2.5 inches deep and also like someone already mentioned the drawers don't extend open the whole way, so there is about 8 inches of storage that you can't see. Not a problem for me, but could be for some. Wife has called dibs on the second one and it's in the basement still empty, but if she doesn't hurry, it'll be back in the garage and I'll have to build a bigger workbench.
Woo-hoo -- success. Here are a few more.
The first shows the drawer depth front to rear.
And this one shows the top drawer of 3/8 and 1/4 drive.
Lastly the wrenches. This is still a work in progress. I have two slightly modified HF wrench racks in there, but with reversible combinations on top of the bench stubby gearwrenches on the way, this wastes too much space. I'll probably go with Ernst wrench rails.
The first shows the drawer depth front to rear.
And this one shows the top drawer of 3/8 and 1/4 drive.
Lastly the wrenches. This is still a work in progress. I have two slightly modified HF wrench racks in there, but with reversible combinations on top of the bench stubby gearwrenches on the way, this wastes too much space. I'll probably go with Ernst wrench rails.